Going into the Premiership Rugby season as defending champions is never easy, you are there to be shot at by all teams regardless of their league position. Every team now wants to beat you more than ever before.
Last season saw Northampton Saints win their first ever league title, despite success in other major competitions winning the Heineken Cup back in the 1999-2000 season. But last year the Saints were able to shake off the loveable losers’ tag, with a last second try as extra time expired verses the Saracens in last year’s final.
They came into the opening fixture against Gloucester with the expectations of a win, but a very tough and hard fought match. Due to the strong youth development that Northampton Saints prides itself on, there was a lack of signings during the offseason, whereas their counterparts for the evening, Gloucester had recruited big and recruited players of the top calibre. Hibbard, Hook, Afoa, Palmer, Galarza and Laidlaw. But it was the side with very few new players, which took full control of the fixture.
The game started as many do in the early exchanges, with the two kickers Myler and Hook having a successful penalty apiece to their names. But then it was time for British and Irish Loins winger, George North to take centre stage. Fast ball from the Saints ruck gave Luther Burrell space, he found North in acres of his own space who crossed the corner unchallenged.
It wasn’t long before Myler added a superb second try, looping a kick perfectly in between the Gloucester defensive line and the on-rushing George Pisi was there to collect and finish the move. Laidlaw’s penalty gave the visitors slight hope, but North scored a sensational individual try, stepping one player and turning another before diving over. By halftime the game was nearly over, but the Northampton Saints were far from done.
The defending champions were merciless after the halftime interval. James Wilson, replacing Ben Foden is starting fullback, slipped in Luther Burrell for his opening try of the season racing past his England positional rival Billy Twelvetrees, giving Saints the bonus point before even hitting the 50 minute mark.
Things then managed to get drastically worse for a Gloucester side already four tries down, when Henry Trinder was sin binned for tripping Lee Dickson during a tap penalty. During the ten minutes sin bin, George North secured his hat trick collecting a pass from Myler to dive over in the corner followed by Fotuali’I and Fisher who was on debut, scoring tries of their own.
The final try summed up Gloucester’s shambolic display on the night when Ross Moriarty gifted the ball to on his sides own 22, Burrell didn’t need any further invitation as he went under the posts for his second try of the match.
Saints will be high spirits as they travel to Wasps, whereas Gloucester will need to regroup and fast as they prepare to host Sale next week.